we're getting married!

Sammy moved to NYC in October, 2014. It was a short term, four month move for her job. Or it was supposed to be. As she packed her two suitcases from MN, her parents asked her again if this was just a "temporary" move, and her friends cautioned her about the difficulties of finding a good guy in the Big Apple. But little did they know, it wouldn't take long for Sammy to fall in love with NYC, but even more importantly meet and fall in love with Nat. On a frigid night in November, Nat was hosting a wine tasting party in NYC. He was taking classes to get his diploma in wine and spirits and thought getting friends together would be a good way to "study" and taste a variety of wines. He quickly realized a lot more guys were planning to attend than girls, so in the interest in balancing things out, he asked the girls attending to invite some friends. Carolyn, a friend of Nat's from college, did just that. She asked some of her coworkers if they wanted to join...one of those coworkers was Sammy. And the rest is history! They hit it off at the wine tasting, making a strong connection over football (Sammy is a die hard Vikings fan and Nat is a lifelong Eagles fan...something that would come to test their relationship especially during the 2017/2018 season where the two teams faced off in the NFC Championship Game). As Sammy left that night, she realized Nat hadn't asked for her phone number. How would they go to that opera that Nat said they should go to? Sammy wasn't going to let him off the hook, so as she left she gave Nat her phone number and left the ball in his court. Needless to say, he reached out a few days later and their love story began!

It was 4 years from the day Nat and Sammy met. It also happened to be Thanksgiving day. Nat and Sammy were in Amherst, Massachusetts, at Nat's Aunt Terry and Uncle John's house to celebrate the holiday with Nat's family. Sammy was in the kitchen chopping some vegetables with Nat's mom, Anne, and sister, Maggie. She decided to take a break and sat down on the couch to watch some Thanksgiving Day football. A few minutes later, Maggie told Sammy that Nat needed her in the bonus room above the garage. Not suspecting anything, Sammy waltzed up the stairs and when she turned the corner, Nat was standing in the middle of the room, with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, candles and champagne next to him. Sammy was stunned...but first she needed to take off the apron she was still wearing! She walked up to him and he started talking and that is when she knew that was THE moment, because she could tell he was nervous. After saying the sweetest words, Nat got down on one knee and asked Sammy to marry him. She ecstatically said YES! And what was even more special was that the ring he was slipping on her finger was his grandmother's and it fit perfectly (Sammy has yet to need it resized). Nat's grandmother is 91 years old and his grandfather is 93 years old; they have been happily married for 68+ years. After drinking some champagne and enjoying the special moment just the two of them, they went back downstairs and told Nat's family, most of whom did not know he was proposing that day. They were all so happy and it was so heartwarming to see their reaction. The next day, Nat and Sammy flew to Lincoln, Nebraska, where the couple was able to tell Sammy's immediate family and much of her extended family on her dad's side (they were having a big family reunion). Nat asked Sammy's Dad, Gary, for his blessing in July so her parents knew the proposal was coming, but they were still so elated to hear the news!